Gap Cave, "Cujo's Cave" EarthCache

Beneath the mountains lie miles and miles of subterranean passages. These caves are dark, wet worlds with unique geologic formations and animals that have adapted to survival in the underground.

Gap Cave is located at the base of the Pinnacle Mountain in Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, just beneath the Cumberland Gap, the first "doorway to the west". Several mountain ridges run along the borders of the three states Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. Cumberland Gap is one of the lowest passes in the area and was the best possibility to cross the mountains for the treks of the early settlers on their way west.

Gap Cave has also been called King Solomon's Cave, Soldier's Cave, and Cujo's Cave. The cave was originally referred to as "Gap Cave" because of its proximity to the Gap. When early pioneers saw the cave they knew they were about to cross the mountains into the wilderness of Kentucky.

Throughout the years this cave had numerous names. First it was named Gap Cave by Dr. Thomas Walker, as it is located in Cumberland Gap. Later it was called Soldiers Cave and King Solomon's Cave. The name Cumberland Gap Saltpetre Cave recalls the time when salpetre for gun powder was mined in the cave. As the book by Trowbridge became popular it was dubbed Gap Cave. But the present owner, Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, renamed the cave to Gap Cave, its original name. However, it seems most people still know it as Cujo Cave.

Cujo was a runaway slave, who is said to have hid in the cave during the Civil War. The point with the legend is, that Cujo got killed by Confederate soldiers inside the cave. This is only 5km from the border to Kentucky, which was a neutral state, and so would have been the rescue for Cujo. So the legend tells about failure in looking distance of the goal.

There is a book by John Townsend Trowbridge (1827-1916) called Gap Cave. It was first printed in Boston 1864 and is a historical novel about the Civil War, telling much of the story of this cave.

The cave is almost undeveloped, although it is a show cave for a long time. The former private owners cleaned the floors to allow a rather comfortable walk through the cave and built 183 steps for the steeper parts. But still the floor is uneven in many points and sturdy shoes are much recomended. The cave is not lighted, lamps for the visitors are provided by the guides.

Gap Cave is a natural underground void large enough for a human to enter. Some geologists suggest that the term cave should only apply to cavities that have some part that does not receive daylight.

Gap Cave is an solutional cave formed in rock that is soluble, such as limstone. The largest and most abundant solutional caves in the USA are located in limestone. Limestone dissolves under the action of rainwater and groundwater charged carbonic acid and naturally occurring organic acids. The dissolution process produces a distinctive landform known as karst, characterized by sinkholes, sinking streams, and underground drainage. Gap cave is adorned with calcium carbonate formations produced through slow precipitation. These include flowstones, stalactites, stalagmites, helectites, draperies, soda straws and columns. These secondary mineral deposits in the cave are called speleothems.

A highlight of the trip is the Talking Stalactite or Gurgling Stalactite. It is a rather common stalactite with one specialty, it makes a strange sound like a tree frog or a chirping cricket. The sound is produced by water, probably a drop of water falling through a crack in the limestone ceiling.

As I stared through the dim lantern beams and viewed the spectacular stalagmites it made me realize how many years it took to create this natural artwork. In the underground caverns of Gap Cave, there are 75 foot pillars serving as an impressive wonder of nature.It takes a stalagmite about 100 years to increase by an inch, some stalactices represent 90,000 years of growth.

A stalactite, from the Greek word for "drip" and meaning "that which drips", is a type of speleothem that hangs from the ceiling or wall of limestone caves. It is a type of dripstone.

Stalactites are formed by the deposition of calacium carbonate and other minerals, which is precipitated from mineralized water solutions. Every stalactite begins with a single mineral-laden drop of water. When the drop falls, it leaves behind the thinnest ring of calcite. Each subsequent drop that forms and falls deposits another calcite ring. Eventually, these rings form a very narrow, hollow tube commonly known as a "soda straw" stalactite. Soda straws can grow quite long, but are very fragile. If they become plugged by debris, water begins flowing over the outside, depositing more calcite and creating the more familiar cone-shaped stalactite. The same water drops that fall from the tip of a stalactite deposit more calcite on the floor below, eventually resulting in a rounded or cone-shaped stalagmite. Unlike stalactites, stalagmites never start out as hollow "soda straws." Given enough time, these formations can meet and fuse to create columns.

With a fairly mild climate, Cumberland Gap is a great place to visit any time of year! Summers can be hot and humid, with temperatures commonly in the mid to upper 90's. Winters are generally mild with rain and some periods of snow January through March. Temperatures usually range in the 30's and 40's. Weather can sometimes be unpredictable, especially at higher elevations. If hiking in the backcountry, please remember that temperatures at higher elevations are five to ten degrees cooler.

Ranger led tours take visitors into the depths of Gap Cave, a cave seen by pioneers as they traveled the historic Wilderness Road through Cumberland Gap into Kentucky.

Join park rangers on an exciting two-hour adventure exploring this majestic underground cathedral! Discover glistening stalagmites and flowstone cascades, or catch a glimpse of a bat.

The moderately strenuous, 1.5 mile tour explores four levels of the cave via 183 steps. The tour includes a 1 mile hike along the historic Wilderness Road. For the safety of all, no children under the age of five are permitted. Appropriate hiking footwear is required. No sandals or open toed shoes are allowed.

All tours meet at the Daniel Boone parking area. Tickets must be purchased at least 15 minutes in advance.

Tour has limited capacity. Reservations are recommended and can be made up to one month in advance by calling the park visitor center at (606) 248-2817.

If you touch the flowstones, stalactites, stalagmites, helectites, draperies, soda straws or columns, you may get a 500 dollar fine, so don't do it!

Alert! A disorder known as White-Nose Syndrome has been found in caves in the eastern United States and is killing hundreds of thousands of bats. Evidence suggests that the fungus that causes the disorder may possibly be spread by humans who venture into different caves. Please wear appropriate footwear and clothing that has not been in other caves or footwear and clothing that has been properly decontaminated.

Permission for this EarthCache is allowed by the Cumberland Gap National Historic Park. Always ask for permission before placing an EarthCache in the park.

To get credit for this EC, post a photo of you on a cave tour (inside the cave) or at the cave entrance (no photos of just a hand) and please answer the following questions.

1. What created the stalactites inside the cave?

2. What s the height and width of the cave entrance?

3. What type of creatures live in the cave?

Cav Scout has earned GSA's highest level

Why do I ask for a face in the picture of the EarthCacher finding any of my EarthCaches? A face shot is the same as a signature in a log book. Many geocachers feel in order to get a find you must sign the log book, period. EarthCaching is special and a human face is the same as a signature in a log book. I do not accept hand shots (pictures of a hand with GPS) because it does not show who’s really visiting the ECs I set up for all to enjoy. Besides, there is no log book for you to sign at a EarthCache.

For anyone who doesn’t want to post a picture of their face, then log the find as a note or don’t do it at all. Nobody is forcing anyone to come and visit any of my EarthCaches. I could argue that signing a log at a traditional cache is violating my personal rights because I have to sign a piece of paper. Maybe someone will forge my signature and steal my identity!

An argument that a photo violates a persons identity is foolish. Geocaching is a social activity. Eventually someone will meet you and know you are geocaching. If you want to live a secretive life then geocaching is not the place to do so. Cache on!

Do not log this EC unless you have answered the questions and have a picture ready to post! Logs with no photo of the actual cacher logging the find or failure to answer questions or negative comments will result in a log deletion without notice. Exceptions will be considered if you contact me first (I realize sometimes we forget our cameras or the batteries die). You must post a photo at the time of logging your find. If your picture is not ready then wait until you have a photo.

Sources of information for the EarthCache quoted from the Cumberland National Historic Park. I have used sources available to me by using google search to get information for this earth cache. I am by no means a geologist.. I use books, internet, and ask questions about geology just like 99.9 percent of the geocachers who create these great Earth Caches. I enjoy Earth Caches and want people to get out and see what I see every time I go and explore this great place we live in.